Construction and materials industries

BRE subsidy to be halved after sale

Article Abstract:

The UK Department of the Environment will withdraw the guarantees of government workload for the Building Research Establishment following its privatization. In the pre-privatization year of 1995/96, the government provided 89% of the workload for the 41.8 million pounds sterling turnover. This will be reduced to 22-23 million pounds sterling in the first year of privatization and then to zero over the following five years. The opposition Labour Party has stated that it may not honour funding pledges if it wins the 1997 General Election.

A life of two halves

Article Abstract:

UK building contractor Paul Danson referees for national soccer games all over the United Kingdom despite working hard in his own business. Danson has enjoyed refereeing since he was a schoolboy and became qualified to referee at the age of fifteen. He works for the Premier League Football Association on most weeks and weekends of the season. He is pleased to have the opportunity to take part in important matches but says that the three hundred and fifty pounds sterling he earns for each match is not enough to cover his loss of earnings.

Treasury launches test case project

Article Abstract:

The Treasury has invited contractors and developers to register interest in redeveloping its headquarters in Whitehall. The redevelopment is expected to cost between 200-300 million pounds sterling, to be financed privately. Interested parties need to respond by August 14 1995, and ads have also been run in US and Far Eastern publications. The redevelopment will include internal modernisation of the building.